Hi, I am new to SCE and would like to get some help installing (trialling with the SCE 2007 SP1 VHD) step by step guide if possible and would like to know what changes will take place to the existing infrastructure. Will there be any changes made to AD or any other settings if I just accept the default installation option. I am planning for a physical server (Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition) at this stage but may virtualize it later. Thanks

Hello, SCE 2010 RC is available to download, please refer:http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/systemcenteressentials/thread/87805764-8e7a-4638-b35e-14d3d0e10a8bThanks, AnshuThis posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Hello Anshu,Thank you for your reply. But can I just rephrase the question to SCE 2007 VHD installation. I would still need help though to know what changes will take place to the existing infrastructure. Will there be any changes made to AD or any other settings if I just accept the default installation option. Should I backup AD prior to using the VHD on my Virtual PC. Thanks

Hello,Installing SCE server will change the DC. For example, if you chosse the Group Policy option, it will direct Essentials 2007 to make the following changes to the domain: An Active Directory group is created. The Essentials 2007 Management Server is added to the Active Directory group. Two Group Policy objects (GPOs) are created. One GPO is targeted at ‘All Computers’ Active Directory group and contains both the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) certificates and Windows Firewall settings. The other GPO is specifically targeted at Essentials 2007 managed computers. This GPO is applied to the Active Directory group created by Essentials 2007, and contains settings related to WSUS, Agentless Exception Monitoring (AEM), and Remote Assistance. A domain-level object, System Center Essentials Managed Computers (Active Directory computer group), is created. A domain-level object, SCE Managed Computers Group Policy, is created and added to the Access Control List (ACL) of the System Center Essentials Managed Computers group. A domain-level object, System Center Essentials All Computers Policy, is created. This object's Group Policy applies to computers in the domain. I would suggest setting up a new environment to test SCE server instead of installing it on your working environment. Thanks,Yog Li - MSFT

Thank you.